What Are the Chickpea Flour Benefits?

What Are the Chickpea Flour Benefits?

If you're a fan of hummus, then you're probably already searching for new ways to use it. While hummus is a delicious snack, it's not the only thing that chickpeas can be used to create. When ground into flour, chickpeas offer several benefits to cooking. Used to make dishes like Spicy Chickpea Quinoa Patties and Easy Chickpea Flatbread, they're a versatile ingredient overflowing with possibilities. If you're wondering why you should make space in your pantry for a bag of chickpea flour, we're here to help make the decision easier. Delicious in every iteration, there's so much to love about chickpea flour. Continue scrolling as we discuss the benefits of using chickpea flour to create some of your favorite baked goods.

What Is Chickpea Flour?

We know that chickpeas are used to make hummus, but how is chickpea flour used? Chickpea flour is made from ground and dried chickpeas. It offers a slightly nutty, fairly neutral flavor, allowing it to work well in several sweet and savory recipes. Often found in the health food section of most grocery stores, chickpea flour may also be placed next to the gluten free ingredients as it's entirely grain free.

Why Is Chickpea Flour Healthy?

Wondering what makes chickpea flour a healthy alternative? Unlike all purpose flour, chickpea flour is high in nutrients like protein and fiber. It also contains various micronutrients that allow your body to function as it should. Additionally, chickpea flour is low in carbohydrates and calories, making it the ideal choice when following a ketogenic or paleo diet. So, how does chickpea flour stack up against the rest? Just half a cup of chickpea flour contains nearly 11 grams of protein, 5 grams of fiber and a handful of essential nutrients. Though chickpea flour is a favorite amongst all eaters, it's especially great for those with celiac disease and gluten intolerance and provides another flour alternative to choose from.

Chickpea Flour Benefits

Spicy Chickpea Quinoa Patties Now that you know what chickpea flour is, it's time to discuss the many benefits of baking with it. Continue scrolling as we cover the main reasons people enjoy this flour so much.

It's Powerfully Nutritious

Chickpea flour is one of the most nutrient-rich flours on shelves. Widely available and entirely gluten free, it's overflowing with nutrients that many individuals tend to lack. Further, its versatile texture allows it to create gluten free goods that taste nearly identical to their gluten-filled counterparts. Compared to other flours like white rice flour and whole wheat flour, chickpea flour certainly wins when it comes to nutrition.

It's a Great Gluten Free Binding Agent

Making recipes without gluten can be a bit tricky. Gluten acts as a binding agent holding all of the ingredients of a recipe together, and without it, many recipes tend to lose their shape and desired texture. If you're used to creating gluten free goods that turn out a bit more crumbly than expected, then it may be time to switch up the flour that you're using. Chickpea flour is a naturally dense flour, meaning that it offers better binding abilities than most gluten free options. Baking with chickpea flour can help add a sturdy and tender texture to baked goods without the need for gluten.

Chickpea Flour Is Versatile

Though it's just recently made its way to US grocery stores, chickpea flour has been used in Asia and Europe for centuries. Also known as garbanzo bean flour, gram flour and besan, it's added to various cuisines ranging from sweet to savory. Well known in Italy and France for chickpea flour is commonly used to create a variety of bread and snacks. However, in Southern France, it's cooked much like polenta to make a traditional snack known as Panisse. Another common way to use chickpea flour is to create a savory pancake. Though only four ingredientschickpea flour, water, olive oil and saltare needed to make this pancake-like treat, different regions incorporate additional spices and seasonings to make it their own. In Italy, it's known as farinata, whereas it's called socca in France. Easy Chickpea Flatbread with Vegetables

Chickpea Flour Is Vegan

Aside from being naturally gluten free, chickpea flour is also vegan. Easy to use, chickpea flour can be added to several vegan recipes to boost the texture and flavor of the dish. For example, use chickpea flour to create this Gluten Free Vegan Mushroom Stroganoff, incorporate it into a creamy dressing or dip, or use it as a cheese substitute. In addition, chickpea flour can take your usual vegan treats to the next level when mixed with the right ingredients. Ready to make some space in your pantry for chickpea flour? We're confident that after using chickpea flour just once, it's bound to become a favorite. From everyone at Bob's Red Mill, have a healthy and happy day!  
Bob's Red Mill
December 17 2021

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